Seven of the 38 Primates meetingin Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, declined to share the Eucharist today with their fellow Primates. They said:
We are unable to come to the Holy Table with the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church because to do so would be a violation of Scriptural teaching and the traditional Anglican understanding, "Ye that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbours, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways; Draw near with faith" (Book of Common Prayer) ~~full statement is here.
That is something of an improvement over what happened in 2005 at the meeting in Dromantine, N. Ireland, when 14 of the 38 declined to attend a similar Eucharest. Perhaps we should say that 31 Primates attended, rather than always giving the limelight to the dissenters.
Comments